Just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies

The world of work is on the frontlines of the ecological transition. Rising heat, floods, desertification, pollution, and destruction of ecosystems threaten jobs, workers, enterprises and their communities—especially in developing countries and among vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, informal workers, migrants, and youth. Without urgent, inclusive action, environmental challenges risk reversing decades of progress in decent work, social justice, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

There is an alternative. Ensuring a just transition can unlock major social and economic benefits—creating millions of decent jobs, supporting sustainable enterprises, improving workplace safety, expanding social protection, and upholding labour rights. Just transition involves maximizing the social and economic opportunities of ecological transitions, including an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, while minimizing and carefully managing challenges.

For governments, workers and businesses, just transition is a vehicle to empower the world of work to address labour market transformations, based on social dialogue and stakeholder engagement. The Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, endorsed by the International Labour Conference in 2023, provide the central reference for policymaking and a basis for action in this respect.